One thing that’s been typical of wrestling since Vince McMahon started working to bring pro wrestling into the mainstream is celebrity guests.
WCW had more than their fair share of celebrities appear, and during the Monday Night Wars they really ramped it up with Jay Leno, Karl Malone, and David Arquette.
Dennis Rodman’s Unique Personality Rubbed Hulk Hogan the Wrong Way at ’97 Bash At The Beach
One that really made a mark was Dennis Rodman. Not only was he one of the NBA’s best and most popular players like Malone, but he was a character that stood out.
Whatever message he was trying to send, it never impacted his play on the court as he was a dominant rebounder and defensive player.
The reputation
Still, it’s hard for anyone to live down or up to their reputation, and according to Hulk Hogan, Rodman’s was definitely earned.
As WCW was gearing up for Bash At The Beach on July 13, 1997, Rodman was brought in to team with Hogan as part of the nWo, and Rodman didn’t make the best of first impressions.
“We brought (Rodman) down and booked a tag-team match at Bash at the Beach ’97, and made a deal with his agent. But we couldn’t just let him get into the ring unprepared, so we arranged to work out with him for a couple of days.
“The first of those days, I had Lex Luger and the Giant down there at noon, because those were the guys who were going to be in the ring with us. Rodman was late. Hours went by.
“The Giant was pissed, but he was a young guy and he was going to do what I told him. But Lex Luger, who was two hundred eighty pounds without an ounce of fat on his body, wanted to kill Rodman. He wanted to just break him in half.
“I said, ‘Lex, let’s just get through this. We’ll never see this guy again.’ Finally, Rodman sauntered in. He was supposed to be there at twelve and he had kept me and the guys waiting till four. Fortunately for him, Lex Luger and The Giant were able to keep their tempers in check and work with this guy.
“So we showed Rodman the ropes for a couple of days, but he was real lackadaisical. I had no idea if he was really going to be able to pull it off…And that’s pretty much what happened when he got to the wrestling venue too. When the red light went on, he pulled it off masterfully—just like Mr. T and other guys who had surprised me from time to time. He was a pro.
“Still, I swore to God after that I’d never work with him again. He’d about given me a nervous breakdown. That was it for me. Never again. But the next year, at Bash at the Beach ’98, we needed a main event and Rodman was still hot. So despite all my misgivings, I ended up working with him a second time.” – Hollywood Hulk Hogan book.
It was a memorable match, so it’s not a surprise WCW and Rodman came to terms for more appearances.
Hulk Hogan made a career out of understanding the entertainment aspect of pro wrestling, and he and Vince McMahon saw eye to eye in many instances, so teaming back with Rodman made sense.
Hogan was good with crossover stars on camera and in the ring, so it made him the perfect go to guy for this.
What do you think about Rodman’s appearances? Let us know in the comments below.
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